South Korean K2PL tanks from the Bumar-Łabędy factory. Technology transfer is ongoing

An agreement providing for the transfer of technology needed to produce South Korean K2 tanks in Poland was signed on Tuesday between the Bumar-Łabędy plant in Gliwice and the Korean concern Hyundai-Rotem. As noted by the president of Bumar-Łabędy, the agreement will allow the company to rebuild its potential.

The ceremonial signing of the contract took place on Tuesday in Warsaw. Under the agreement, Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar-Łabędy, which is part of the Polish Armaments Group, has, among others, obtain equipment and tools that will enable the launch of an assembly line of K2 tanks in the Polonized K2PL version, as well as accompanying vehicles, in Gliwice.

“Today we are taking a key step towards the Polonization of the K2 tank. From this agreement, K2PL will actually become: PL. We are moving towards the transfer of production, co-production and servicing of K2 tanks in Poland,” said Arkadiusz Bąk, its vice-president, quoted by PGZ.

The president of Bumar-Łabędy, Monika Kruczek, emphasized that the effect of the agreement will be not only an investment in equipment, but above all in competences, knowledge and the future of Polish technical thought. “For our company, this project is more than just the production of combat vehicles. It is the reconstruction of the potential of Bumar-Łabęda, which has been the heart of Polish armor production for decades,” Kruczek recalled.

Senior Executive Vice President and Director of the Defense Systems Department at Hyundai Rotem, Jeong Yeob Lee, assured that his company is fully committed to developing cooperation with Polish partners in order to provide the Polish Armed Forces with the K2PL tank and accompanying vehicles developed in Poland. “This cooperation not only strengthens Poland's defense potential, but also builds lasting Polish-Korean industrial partnerships, contributing to the technological development and security of both countries,” said Vice President of Hyundai Rotem.

The agreement on technology transfer and Polonization of K2 tanks was expected from the beginning of August this year, when a contract was signed in Gliwice for the supply of another 180 machines of this type to the Polish Army, 64 of which are to be in the K2PL version. 61 of these tanks are to be produced in Bumar-Łabędy.

According to the framework agreement signed in 2022 for one thousand such machines, the K2 is ultimately to become the type of tank most frequently used by the Polish Army.

August 1 this year Executive agreement No. 2 was signed in Bumar for the acquisition of, among others, 180 K2 tanks, including the first 64 tanks in the K2PL configuration. 61 of these tanks are to be produced in Gliwice – with Polish components. The first three of the 64 Polonized tanks are still to be built in South Korea, but the remaining 61 machines are to be produced in Bumar-Łabędy.

The agreement also assumes the purchase of 81 accompanying vehicles on a unified chassis, as well as a logistics package related to the preparation of the purchase, staff education, acquisition of skills by Polish soldiers, and a service and repair package.

PGZ reminds that executive agreement No. 2 assumed the transfer of technology, including the establishment of production potential in Polish defense industry companies (final assembly) and the acquisition of capabilities in the field of full service and operation of tanks. In September, executive talks on the principles of Polonization were already underway between PGZ and Korean companies.

PGZ announced on Tuesday that tanks in the K2PL configuration, compared to the original configuration, will be equipped with, among others, with additional protection in the form of: Active Vehicle Protection System, anti-drone system and additional armor. In addition, the vehicles will be modified based on conclusions from the current operation of K2GF tanks.

PGZ declares that it will make every effort to ensure that as many K2 tanks as possible are produced in Bumar. In this respect, at the beginning of October this year. in Gliwice, the president of PGZ, Adam Leszkiewicz, and the president of Bumar-Łabędy, Monika Kruczek, signed an investment agreement. It assumes that Bumar-Łabędy will receive PLN 850 million for investments over the next few years, thanks to which the production of modern wheeled and tracked armored vehicles will be launched there, and the plant's infrastructure will also be modernized. As a result, a center for the production of modern armored vehicles – both wheeled and tracked – will be established in Gliwice, while maintaining the possibility of supporting and securing the production of Krab gun-howitzer chassis.

Bumar-Łabędy's investment plans also include, among others: construction of a new production hall equipped with robotic technological lines, modernization of the current assembly line and retrofitting the plant training ground. Investment funds will also include training and development of IT infrastructure.

The investment agreement concerns the implementation of a strategic project co-financed by the Capital Investment Fund. Completion of the investment in the Gliwice plant is planned for the end of 2028.

The technology transfer included in the August agreement means that the Polish arms industry will return to tank production after a break of several years. (PAP)

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